Richard Jordan Gatling, born in Herford County, invented one of the most deadly weapons of warfare in history--the machine gun. Despite the success of his invention, he remained sickened with the methods of warfare that included his gun, and he attempted to be known for other inventions such as a steam plow.

Whale's Head Light, or Currituck Beach Lighthouse, stands 163 feet high on the beach at Corolla, North Carolina. Built in 1875, it fills a dangerous gap between Cape Henry, Virginia and Bodie Island where southbound vessels keep inshore to avoid the Gulf Stream.

In the exact geographical center of North Carolina lies Randolph County, where Herbert Hoover's ancestors lived, Trinity College resides, and where many industries, such as lumber, hosiery, and furniture been established.